Portable fire-escape



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. P. BROWN.

PORTABLE FIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

WITNESSES:

E Q BY ATTORNEYS.

1m: uoRRxs 9:75 cu, Putnam-Ha, AsmucYou. o. c.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2.

S. F. BROWN. PORTABLE FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 581,652. Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

WITNESSES. M/VE/VTUB 51 M g W ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

S. F. BROWN. PORTABLE FIRE ESCAPE. No. 581,652. Patented Apr. 27, 1897. .5. z z' .2.

WIN/E8854: I/VVEAITOI? af'?%m/ By W W ATIORNEYS.

llNTTnn TATES PATENT @rrrcn.

SPENCER FLERE BROWN, OF LAKE LINDEN, MICHIGAN.

PORTABLE FlRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581 ,652, dated April 27, 1897.

Application filed May 20, 1896- Serial No. 592,281. (No model.)

To all whom, it DMZ [j concern:

Be it known that I, SPENCER FLERE BROWN, of Lake Linden, in the county of Iloughton and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Portable Fire-Escape, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to fire-escapes comprising a series of ladders and a truck upon which the same are carried; and the object of the invention is to provide a device comparatively light in its construction in which the ladders may be easily and quickly elevated or placed in position upon arriving at the scene of the fire and which when folded for transportation will be very compact, therefore taking up little space.

I will describe my invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indi cate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fire-escape and truck embodying my invention. Fig. 2 a rear elevation showing the ladders in posi tion againstabuilding. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3 23 of Fig. 1. Fig. i is a side elevation of a rescuing-ladder employed. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a seat used in connection with said ladder. Fig. 6 shows the upper portion of an extension-ladder and a rescuing-ladder in one position. Fig. 7 shows the same in another position. Fig. 8 is a front view of the upper portion of the rescuing-ladder, showing the mechanism for elevating the same. Fig. 9 is a face view of a locking device employed. Fig. 10 is a side view showing the connection between the main ladder and extension-ladder and a brake therefor, and Fig. 11 is a face view of an antifriction-roller employed.

The truck comprises a base 1, mounted on four truck-wheels 2 in the usual manner. From the base 1 side rails 3 extend upward and extend nearly the whole length of the base 1. At the forward end the side bars 3 terminate in a vertical boxing 4, the front wall of which has a vertical opening 5. The bottom of this boxing 4. is formed of two doors 6 7, each having a rod 8 extended upward through the boxing and terminating in a handle, by the manipulation of which the swinging platforms may be raised or lowered. Base-boards 9 extend upward within the boxing 4 and converge toward their upper ends. These boards 9 have slot-openings for the passage of the rods 8, and they support at their upper ends a transverse bar 10, the outer ends of which are engaged in the side pieces of the boxing at.

Mounted to swing and to move vertically on the bar 10 between the boards 9 is a metal casing 11, adapted to engage at its opposite edges around the opposite side rails of a main ladder 12 in such a manner that the main ladder may have a vertical movement with relation to the casing. The bottom round of the main ladder 12 engages on the upper side of a block 13, arranged to slide within the body portion of the casing 11, and this sliding block is provided with a transverse section slightly elongated in a vertical direction and through which the bar 10 is designed to pass, the said bar 10 also passing through slots formed vertically in the side walls of the casing 11.

Pivotally mounted on the bar 10 at the opposite sides of the main ladder are upwardlyextending braces 14, each brace consisting of two side strips connected together by rounds, the braces thus forming short ladders. The upper ends of the opposite braces 14 are connected by a transverse plate 15, provided with an arc-shaped slot 10', through which a pin 17, extended from the side rail of the main ladder, projects to an engagement in a slot-opening of a lever 18, fulerumed on a transverse bar attached to opposite braces 14. By means of this lever 18 it is obvious that the ladder may be swung to incline in either direction with relation to the truck and also that it may be moved to a vertical position, the said vertical position being necessary when the ladder is first raised or when it is to be lowered onto a truck for transportation.

As a means for locking the main. ladder in such vertical position I may employ fingers 19, pivoted to the plate 15 and adapted to engage the front and rear edges of a side rail of the main ladder. lVhen the ladder is to be moved to an inclined position, of course these fingers will be thrown over against the outer side of the plate 15, as indicated in Fig. 2.

Pivoted to the truck-base 1 at opposite sides of the boxing 4 are short ladders 20,

which may be moved with their lower ends up against the boxing while the truck is in motion or moving from place to place, and which may also be turned downward to an engagement with the ground, as indicated at the right-hand side of Fig. 2, for the convenience of persons desiring to reach the main ladder or to descend therefrom.

I will describe means for raising and lowering the main ladder and the extensionladder 21, connected therewith, and which will be described in detail hereinafter. The means for raising the ladder comprises a short ladder 22, having its lower end pivotally connected to the rear end of the truckbase 1 and having a roller 23 at its upper end designed to engage with the side rail at one side of the ladders 12 and 21, as it is obvious that said ladders will be arranged with their rounds substantially in a vertical position while the ladders are in portable position on the truck. This short ladder 22 serves as a brace to steady the outer ends of the ladders when in transportation and also serves as a means for starting the same while elevating.

Pivotally connected to the base 1 of the truck between the side bars 3 and intermediate of their ends is another short ladder 24, having a roller at its upper end engaging with the ladders in a similar manner to the roller 23. This short ladder 2st extends through a metal frame 25, having its side pieces engaged in longitudinal grooves formed in the inner upper sides of the side bars 3. A rope 26 extends from the upper portion of the ladder 22 to a connection with the reduced portion of a winding-drum 27, having journal-bearings in the side bars 3, the said journals at their opposite ends being provided with suitable cranks. From the enlarged portion of this winding-drum 27 a cord 28 extends to a connection with one of the end pieces of the frame 25, and from the other end of this frame 25 a cord 29 extends to a connection with a winding-drum 30, havingjournal-bearings in the forward portion of the side bars 3, and these journal-bearings are also provided with suitable crank-handles.

In operation by turning the drums 27 and 30 the ladders 22 and 21 will be moved upward and carry with them the ladders 12 and 21, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The short ladder 22, owing to its connection with the smaller portion of the drum 27, Will move only to a vertical position, as indicated in Fig. 1, but the ladder 24: will continue to elevate the ladders 12 and 21 until they shall have been moved into a vertical position.

During the movement of the ladders toward their vertical position the end of the casing 11 will move through the opening 5 in the ladders 12 and 21.

front wall of the boxing 1, and when the ladders shall have reached their vertical position the ladders and casing 11 will slide downward with relation to the block 13, and the lower end of the casing will project through an opening for which one of the swinging doors 6 or 7 is provided and which shall have previously been swung open, as indicated at the right-hand side of Fig. 3, depending, of course, upon which way it is designed to lean the ladders.

The extension-ladder 21. is mounted on and is designed to move longitudinally with relation to the ladder 12. As here shown, the ladder 12 at its upper end is provided with metal guide-plates 31, adapted to engage loosely with the side rails of the extensionladder. The lowerend of the extension-ladder is provided with antifriction-rollers 32, said rollers being seated in the side rails of the extension-ladder and adapted to bear against the side rails of the main ladder 12, and the upper ends of the side rails of the main ladder are provided with similar rollers 33, designed to engage with the adjacent surfaces of the side rails of the extensionladder.

J ournaled in the lower portion of the main ladder 12 is a winding-drum 34, around which raisin g-ropes 35 are wound. The raisingropes 35'at one end are connected to eyes attached to the lower end of the ladder 21, and after making one turn around the drum 31 they are extended upward over pulleys 36, connected to a hanger 37, attached to the upper end of the main ladder 12, and from these pulleys 36 the ropes 35 extend downward to a connection with the bottom round of the ladder 21. Obviously by rotating the drum 34 in one direction by means of its crankhandles the ladder 21 may be moved downward.

I provide a brake mechanism between the As here shown, this brake mechanism consists of metal plates 37, secured at one end in recesses formed in the side rails of the main ladder 12 and adapted to be forced outward into engagement with the side rails of the extension-ladder. A shaft 38 has its ends journaled in the side rails of the fixed ladder, and the ends of this shaft are provided with right-angled fingers 39 in engagement with the plates 37. From the central portion of this shaft 38 an arm i0 extends outward and is in connection with a rope 41, which extends downward to the ground or to the truck. Obviously by pulling downward on this rope 11 the shaft 38 will be rocked, causing the fingers 39 to force the plates 37 into engagement with the extension-ladder and hold it rigidly at any desired adjustment.

The extension-ladder 21 is provided at its upper end with means for holding it a suitable distance away from the wall of the building. This means consists of arms 42, pivotally connected at one end to the side rails of the extensioirladder and adapted to engage the upper surface of a window-sill, as indicated in Fig. 2. Intermediate of their ends the arms 42 are connected by a transverse rod 43. Brace-arms 44 are also pivoted at their upper ends to the upper ends of the side rails of the ladder, and these arms 44 are each provided with a longitudinal slot through which the bar 43 may pass. The lower ends of the slots in the arms 44 are curved outward and upward, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. These portions of the slots form hooks to engage with the bar 43 and prevent the accidental disengagement of the parts. The arms 44 are designed to engage at their lower ends below the arms 42 with the outer surface of the window-sill. Obviously these arms may be folded closely against the sides of the ladder when it is desired to place the same on a truck.

I will now describe a rescuing-ladder used in connection with this apparatus. The rescuing-ladder 45 has journaled in its upper portion a spindle 46, one journal of which may be extended through the side rail of the ladder to be engaged by a crank for winding a rope on the spindle. The ends of the spindle are enlarged and are frictionally engaged by spring-metal brake-straps 47, the brakestraps being connected at one end to a bar 48, extended between the side rails of the ladder, and the other ends of said brake-straps are connected to a swinging crank 49, the body portion of which is engaged by a screw 50, passing through a tapped hole in a bar 51, secured to the side bars of the ladder. By manipulating the screw 50 it is obvious that the brake-straps may be caused to exert more or less pressure upon the winding-spindle. A rope 52 on the spindle 46 is provided at its end with an eye 53, adapted to be engaged by a short rope or wire 54, depending from a bar 55, attached to grappling-hooks 56. These grappling-hooks 56 have pivotal connection with the bar 55, so that they may turn in relation thereto to place their upper horizontal ends in position at right angles to the ladder to engage over a window-sill or to be turned transversely of the ladder when it is desired to place the same on the truck. They may be held in this inward position by means of grooved plates 57, pivotally connected to the inner sides of the side rails of the ladder and adapted to engage angular upright portions of the grappling-hooks.

The bar is held temporarily in connection with the ladder 45 by means of wire spring-plates 58, mounted on a rod 59,attached to the side rails of the ladder and adapted to engage with their spring-jaws with the opposite sides of the bar 55.

By this construction, after the grapplinghook shall have been placed in engagement with a window'sill or other support, a downward pull on the ladder 45 will disengage the spring-plates 58 from the bar 55, so that the ladder 45 may be lowered by allowing the rope 52 to unwind from the spindle 46, the speed of said spindle being regulated by means of the friction-brakes operated by a fireman or other person standing on the upper portion of the ladder, as indicated in Fig. 7. An auxiliary flexible connection 60 may extend from the eye 53 for engagement with its hooked end over a window-sill or other device.

Movable vertically on the ladder 45 is a seat 61, of canvas or other suitable material, secured at one end to a frame 62, which extends around the ladder and is provided at its ends with inwardly-extending lugs 63, engaging in channels 64, formed in the outer surface of the side rails of the ladder 45. These lugs 63 are extended directly at right angles to the end pieces of the frame 62, and they are also extended somewhat above and below the frame. Extended transversely through slots formed in the ends of the plate 62 and pivoted thereto at the outer side of the ladder-rails are brace-rods 65, designed to engage against the wall of a building. The opposite ends of the said rods 65 are connected by a transverse rod 66, to which one end of the seat 61 is attached. Hooks 67 have chain or similar connection 68 with the frame 62. These hooks 67 are designed for engagement with the inner edge or some other projection of a window-sill, and when so engaged the ends of the rods 65 may engage with the outer surface of the buildingwall. A person seated 011 the seat 61 may move the ladder 45 upward to engage its grappling-hooks with a support or to an up per window, substantially as indicated in Fig. 4.

The extension-ladder 21 may be provided with a hook 69 to be engaged with one of the rounds of the ladder 45 to hold the same at any desired or adjusted position with relation to the extension-ladder, and the lower end of the ladder 45 maybe provided with spring-fingers 70 to engage the upper side of one of the rounds of the ladder 21 to hold two of said ladders in alinement. The ladder 45, when occasion requires, may be detached from and elevated wholly above the extension-ladder 21, as indicated in Fig. 7. \Vhen in this position, a person to be saved or rescued may be placed on the seat 61, and then a fireman standing 011 the upper portion of the ladder 45, who operates the brake or tension devices 47, may allow the ladder 45 to graduallydescend until itslower end reaches the ladder 21. The lower end of the ladder 45 may be guided by means of a rope 71, extending from a roller 72, journaled in the lower portion of the ladder 45, and extended downward to the ladder 21, so that a person on said ladder may manipulate the rope, as indicated in Fig. 7. The roller 72 may be provided with a suitable brake or stop to be automatically operated by means of the rope 71 or otherwise. \Vhen the doors 6 and 7 are closed, the ladder will be held thereby in a vertical position, so that the truck may be moved from place to place while the ladder is up.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A fire-escape, comprising a truck having side bars, a boxing at the forward end of said truck, swinging doors arranged in the lower portion or bottom of said boxing, means for operating the same, a rod or shaft extended transversely in the boxing, a casing adapted to swing and slide longitudinally on said bar or shaft, a ladder having sliding connectionwith said casing, an extension-ladder having sliding connection with the first-named ladder, and means for sliding the extension-ladder relatively to the first-named ladder, substantially as specified.

2. A fire-escape, comprising a truck having side bars, a boxing at one end of said truck, a bar or shaft extended transversely in said boxing, a casing mounted to swing and to move longitudinally on said bar or shaft, a ladder having sliding connection with said casing, an elevating-ladder connected with the body of the truck and engaging with one of' the side rails of the first-named ladder, a frame adapted to slide in guideways formed in the side bars of the truck-body and engaging with said raising-ladder, and a windingdrum and rope connections for moving said frame, substantially as specified.

3. A fire-escape, comprising a truck having side bars, the main ladder on the truck, a frame movable on the side bars, a raising-ladder engaged by said frame, a short ladder pivotally connected to the rear end of the truckbody and engaging with one of the side rails of the first-named ladder, and a winding-drum and connection for operating this last-named ladder, substantially as specified.

4:. A fire-escape, comprising a truck having a boxing on one of its ends, a bar or shaft supported transversely therein, a casing adapted to slide on said bar or shaft, a main ladder having sliding engagement with the casing, side braces pivotally connected with the transverse bar or shaft and having slotted plates at their upper ends, a pin extended from the main ladder, a pivoted lever engaging with said pin, for shifting the ladder laterally of the truck, and means for locking the ladder to the said braces, substantially as specified.

5. A fire-escape, comprising a truck, a boxing arranged on one end thereof, a shaft extended transversely in said boxing, side boards extended upward from said boxing and converging toward their upper ends, swinging bottom boards for said boxing, rods extended up from said swinging bottom boards through openings in the side boards, a main ladder, a metal casing engaging with the side rails of said ladder, and a slide-block in the casing having a perforation through which the transverse shaft passes, the said transverse shaft also passing through slots in the side pieces of the casing, substantially as specified.

6. A fire-escape, comprising a truck, amain ladder mounted thereon, an extension-ladder having sliding connection with the main ladder, antifriction-rollers between the two ladders, a retarding device for the extensionladder comprising two plates secured to the main ladder, a rock-shaft journaled in the main ladder and having fingers engaging with the spring-plates, an arm extended outward from the rock-shaft, and a flexible connection extending from said arms, substantially as specified.

7. A fire-escape, comprising a rescuing-ladder, a spindle journaled in the upper end thereof, a brake mechanism for said spindle, grappling-hooks, a bar to which said grappling-hooks are connected, and a rope extended from the spindle to a connection with the bar of the grappling-hooks, substantially as specified.

8. A fire-escape, comprising a ladder, a spindle journaled in the upper portion thereof, a retarding device for the spindle, grapplinghooks, a bar or rod to which the lower ends of said hooks are attached, spring-plates supported on the ladder and adapted to engage with said bar, and a flexible connection between said bar and the spindle, substantially as specified.

9. A fire-escape, comprising a ladder, a spindle mounted in the upper portion thereof, grappling-hooks having flexible connection with said spindle, a brake for said spindle comprising a metal plate attached at one end to the fixed portion of the ladder and extended around and in engagement with the spindle to an attachment with a crank-rod, and a screw for operating said crank-rod, substantially as specified.

10. A fire-escape, comprising a ladder, spring-yielding plates supported thereon, a bar removably engaged between said plates, grappling-hooks having pivotal connection with said bar and extended upward therefrom, a locking mechanism between said grappling-hooks and the ladder, a spindle journaled in the ladder, and a rope or wire connection between said spindle and the bar of the grappling-hook, substantially as specified.

11. A fire -escape, comprising a ladder, means for suspending the same, a frame extended around the ladder and having sliding engagement therewith, brace-rods having pivotal connection with said frame and adapted to engage against the wall of a building, a seat supported at one end by said brace-rods and at the other end by the frame, and hooks having flexible connection with said frame, substantially as specified.

12. A fire-escape, comprising a ladder having channels formed in the outer surface of its side rails, a frame extended around said ladder and having lugs projected into said channels, rods pivoted in transverse slots in connection with the upper portion of said the outer portions of said frame and adapted ladder, and a rod connecting the first-named to engage at their front ends with the Wall arms and passing through the slots in the of the building, and hooks having a flexible brace-arms, and arranged to engage in hook I 5 5 connection with said frame, substantially as portions formed at the lower portions of said specified. slots, substantially as specified.

13. A fire-escape comprising a truck, a T ladder mounted thei eon and adapted to be SPEB GER FLERE swung into vertical and horizontal positions, "Witnesses: I 10 arms having pivotal connection With said NEIL M. GILLIES,

ladder, slotted brace-arms having pivotal F. M. A. PENNISTON. 

